Jenny Kao-Kniffin

Research in my lab centers on the role of soil microorganisms in impacting plant growth, physiology, and fitness. We apply concepts and techniques in microbial ecology to uncover the relationships between soil microbial communities and plant traits. The research projects include the use of experimental microbial ecosystems to uncover the microbial-based mechanisms mediating plant and ecosystem traits. Examining the mechanistic basis of microbial selection studies can yield the development of microbial consortia, isolation of new microbial strains, and purification of compounds that enhance desirable plant populations while suppressing weeds. For more information, visit my lab website.

Outreach and Extension 

My extension duties focus on assisting public and private audiences with the most appropriate methods to manage weedy and invasive plants in horticultural landscapes. We are developing a web-based software program that allows users to select weed methods based on conventional or organic weed management preferences. We work with public, private, and university partners in developing innovative, cost-effective control strategies that can be integrated into sustainable weed management programs.

Selected Journal Publications

View publications on Google Scholar.

• Gannett, M., DiTommaso, A., Sparks, J.P., and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2024. Microbial nitrogen immobilization as a tool to manage weeds in agroecosystems. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 366, 108904. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2024.108904.
• Garcia, J., Bray, N., Son, Y., Butler-Jones, A., and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2023. Plant growth and microbial responses from urban agriculture soils amended with excavated local sediments and municipal composts. Journal of Urban Ecology, 9(1), juad016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jue/juad016.
• Groffman, P. M., Suchy, A. K., Locke, D.H., Johnston, R.J., Newburn, D.A., Gold, A.J., Band, L.E., Duncan, J., Grove, J.M., Kao-Kniffin, J. and H. Meltzer. 2023. Hydro-bio-geo-socio-chemical interactions and the sustainability of residential landscapes. PNAS Nexus, 2(10), pgad316. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad316.
• Lane, C., Al Shoffe, Y., Kao-Kniffin, J., and C.B. Watkins. 2023. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine and low oxygen controlled atmosphere storage shift functional microbiomes of ‘Gala’apples. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 206, 112546. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2023.112546.
• Thompson, G., Bray, N., Groffman, P.M., and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2023. Soil microbiomes in lawns reveal land-use legacy impacts on urban landscapes. Oecologia. 202, 337–351 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-023-05389-8.
• Jernigan, A., Kao-Kniffin, J., Pethybridge, S., and K. Wickings. 2023. Soil microarthropod effects on plant growth and development. Plant and Soil, 483: 27–45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-022-05766-x
• Dastogeer, K.M.G, Kao-Kniffin, J., and S. Okazaki. Editorial: Plant microbiome: Diversity, functions, and applications. 2022. Front Microbiol. Sep 26;13:1039212. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1039212. 
• Garcia, J., M. Gannett, L. Wei, L. Cheng, S. Hu, J. Sparks, J. Giovannoni, and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2022. Selection pressure on the rhizosphere microbiome can alter nitrogen use efficiency and seed yield in Brassica rapa. Communications Biology, 5(1): 959. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03860-5
• King, W. L., Kaminsky, L. M., Gannett, M., Thompson, G. L., Kao‐Kniffin, J., and T. Bell. 2022. Soil salinization accelerates microbiome stabilization in iterative selections for plant performance. New Phytologist, 234(6), 2101-2110. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17774
• Cheng, L., A. DiTommaso, and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2022. Opportunities for microbiome suppression of weeds using regenerative agricultural technologies. Frontiers in Soil Science. 2:838595. DOI: 10.3389/fsoil.2022.838595
• Parikh, T., S. P. Egendorf, I. Murray, A. Jamali, B. Yee, S. Lin, K. Cooper-Smith, B. Parker, K. Smiley, and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2022. Greening the virtual smart city: Accelerating peer-to-peer learning in urban agriculture with virtual reality environments. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. 3: 815937. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.815937
• Gannett, M., N. Bray, J. Lampman, J. Lerner, K. Murray, V. Wallace, T. Yeh, M. Slavens, G.L. Thompson, and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2021. Repetitive overseeding for ecological management of grass playing fields. HortScience. 56: 226-233. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI15419-20.
• Panke-Buisse K., L. Cheng, H. Gan, K. Wickings, M. Petrovic, and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2020. Root fungal endophytes and microbial extracellular enzyme activities show patterned responses in tall fescues under drought conditions. Agronomy. 10(8):1076. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081076 
• Howard, M.M., J. Kao‐Kniffin, and A. Kessler. 2020. Shifts in plant‐microbe interactions over community succession and their effects on plant resistance to herbivores. New Phytologist. 226, no. 4 (2020): 1144-1157 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16430
• Howard, M.M., C.A. Muñoz, J. Kao-Kniffin, and A. Kessler. 2020. Soil microbiomes from fallow fields have species-specific effects on crop growth and pest resistance. Frontiers in Plant Science. 11: 1171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffpls.2020.01171.
• Bray, N., Thompson, G.L., Fahey, T., Kao-Kniffin, J., and Wickings, K. 2020.Soil macroinvertebrates alter the fate of root and rhizosphere carbon and nitrogen in a turfgrass lawn. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 148: 107903. DOI:10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107903
• Garcia, J. and J. Kao‐Kniffin*. 2020. Can dynamic network modeling be used to identify adaptive microbiomes? Functional Ecology. 34: 2065– 2074. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.13491
• Thompson, G.L. and J. Kao-Kniffin*. 2019 Urban grassland management implications for soil C and N dynamics: A microbial perspective. Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution, 7:315. DOI:10.3389/fevo.2019.00315
• Bray, N., Kao-Kniffin, J., Frey, S.D., Fahey, T., and K. Wickings. 2019. Soil macroinvertebrate presence alters microbial community composition and activity in the rhizosphere. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10:256. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00256 
• Kaminsky, L.M., G.L. Thompson, R.V. Trexler, T.H. Bell†*, and J. Kao-Kniffin†. 2019. Medicago sativa has reduced biomass and nodulation when grown with soil microbiomes conditioned to high phosphorous inputs. Phytobiomes, 2:237-248. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-06-18-0025-R

Book Chapters

• Kao-Kniffin, J. (2012). Rhizosphere ecology. McGraw Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, 11th Edition McGraw-Hill Editors (ed.), McGraw-Hill.

• The White House Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), 2019
• Weihenstephan Science Award, International Collaboration for Early Career Scientists 2017 Freising, Germany
• Cornell University CALS Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Students in Independent Research 2013 Cornell University

• PLSCI 4900: Reflection on Plant Sciences Experiential Learning